Month: May 2015

The West Columbia Riverwalk – Along the Congaree, the Riverwalk offers a nice path that you can jog, bike or walk your dog no matter what time of year. With the beautiful river views, you’ll pass countless other joggers and maybe even a bride or two getting their pictures taken.

Café Strudel – Hands down one of our favorite brunch spots in all of Columbia. If you don’t live in West Columbia, cross the bridge and wait your turn in line. Trick of the trade…order the Hangover Hashbrowns. They were featured in Southern Living….oooh la la! http://www.cafestrudel.com

Terra Restaurant – Terra’s has a great vibe and has even better food. Their simple fresh menu never disappoints and neither does the patio! Check out their menu at http://www.terrasc.com Also, for those of you above the age of 21, their wine and cocktail list is hard to beat!

New Brookland Tavern – This place may look tiny from the outside but don’t let it fool you. Their music lineup is not to be missed and they often feature local and upcoming bands. Check out the latest lineup at http://www.newbrooklandtavern.com If you enjoy music, you will definitely love this place!

The Tour de Columbia blog post series helps give an overview of Columbia’s various areas and a sampling of our favorite places and things to do within each. We hope that if you are new to Columbia, this helps you discover all that the city has to offer. Already live in Columbia? Maybe we can help you find something new!

Here are some of our tips on finding a rental property that is right for you!

TIP #1 – Always drive by a property first to make sure that you like it as well as the area. Obviously if you are relocating this may be a bit trickier but you will get the best feel for a property and the area by doing this and will be able to weed out some properties from your wish list based on your needs which brings us to tip #2.

TIP #3 – If you are hunting for a rental with a roommate, make sure you are both on the same page about the type of property you are looking for as well as the rental rate. When you find that right place, you sign a lease which means that it becomes a legally binding contract between you, your roommate and the Landlord. You don’t want to get into a situation where you can afford your portion of the rent but your roommate can’t. You both signed the lease remember? This means that you are both accountable for that rent $ even if you are holding up your end of the bargain.

TIP #4 – Accept that some give & take may occur…no place is perfect and chances are won’t meet every item on your checklist, but that’s ok. You can still find something that you love!